Envelope



Oct. 3l, 1950 ,1 A FRAMPTON 2,527,925

ENvELoPE Filed New. 2o, 194e Fra rn The A. B.C. Co.

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ENvELoP'E' John A. Frampton, Columbus; Oliio Application November 20,194e, "s'alNd 711,119"

l The invention relates to envelopes generally, but it will bedescribedmore particularly here in eonleotion with that type commonlyknown as return envelopes. l .v When the envelopes of the presentinvention are used as return envelopes they are originally sent as thirdclass mail, the flap being inserted to prevent loss of the contents. Theenvelope returns as first class mail; theV flap having been withdrawnand sealed.

In the use of this type of envelope it is very desirable that the flap,when inserted for third class mail, extend nearly the full depth of theenvelope and be of nearly the full width of the envelope throughout itsdepth, so as to securely hold the contents, Il;

Heretofore, if a flap as described above were used, very considerabledifculty would be encountered in removing it, andthe flaps would oftenbe torn during this operation, rendering the envelope unt for returnuse.

The object of the present invention is to provide an envelope which willsecurely hold the contents While going as third class mail, by usinga--lap of great depth andv width, and providing a construction by whichthe nap can be withdrawn, for the return trip, with the greatest easeand without danger of being torn or otherwise mutilated.

Various other objects and advantages of the Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe envelope in open condition ready for the mail matter to be inserted;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the envelope after the flap has been insertedfor third class mail- 111g;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the envelope illustrating the nap inprocess of being withdrawn;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the envelope after the nap has been withdrawnand sealed for first class mailing; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a slightmodification.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the front of the envelope isindicated by numeral I. The body of the envelope can of course be ofvarious constructions, but in the specie embodiment illustrated the backhas an inturned portion at each end, indicated by numerals 2 and 3. ,Ihefront of the envelope, at one end, is sealed 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-;73)

' corners of the flap are preferably 'roun' to the inturned Vportion 2,and the'otherend 5f the front of the envelope has an inturnedv portion4, shown in Figure 3, and this inturr'led por v` tion 4 is sealed to theinturned portion 3; n v f Y Thefront of the envelope has its edgecut ona diagonal from one end of the enveloperto' the other, as indicated bynumeral 5;` Thus, when' the envelope flap 6 is inserted for third classmail; ing, a portion of the flap is left exposeclg'as indieated bynumeral 1 V The end of the flap 6 which is Vadjaclentv to the cut awayportion of the front I, is also vcutifona rather sharp diagonal, asindicated by num jlj" and Vthe opposite end of the nap may have@ slighttaper,` as indicated bynumeral 19"' The ,.215 indicated by :numeral 10,and thefr'ee'edg'e' ls gumlned forrst class mailingMas indicated.' byynumeralll. j l It will be noted that the depth and width' of the flapare vsubstantiallythe sa'lneasthe j' and` width of theenvelope, but. byreason y diagonal out 5,. the diagonal out a, and, e' fj posed portion1, the flapis withdra 'r11 jwitho t the least dllnoulty, as wlll'bebriey des 'ed bel'o'w. Of `0'ur`s'e, the Construction also greatly"facilitates the insertion of the flap, but the greatest difficulty hasbeen-encountered in withdrawing flaps.

When the addressee receives the envelope, third class, to open the sameit is only necessary to grasp the exposed portion l of the flap, withthe thumb or flngers and the flap will readily and without anydifficulty whatever be withdrawn to a position as illustrated in Figure3, forming a large loop, which is then grasped and the ap entirelywithdrawn. Thus the flap is withdrawn very quickly, Without the leasttrouble, and without any danger of the vflap or envelope beingmutilated, even though the flap is of substantially the full width ofthe envelope and' extends to the bottom thereof or substantially to` thebottom thereof.

This most desirable feature of the invention results from the novelconstruction, including the provision of the exposed portion, by whichone end of the flap is grasped and largely withdrawn, the expo-sedportion being made possibley by the diagonal cut 5 of the envelopefront; this Withdrawal of one end of the flap, to form the loop, is alsogreatly facilitated by the diagonal out 8 of the end of the flapadjacent the exposed portion, for it is apparent that with the provisionof the diagonal cut 8 there is no resistance to the withdrawal of thatend of the ap as would be the case if the dge of the flap ran along orclose to the edge of the envelope; and the provision of the diagonal cut5 of the envelope front also facilitates removal of the nap by reason ofthe fact that it materially lessens the extent to which one end of theap must be withdrawn before that end is clear or substantially clear ofthe envelope, It will be understood, of course, that when one end of theflap is removed or moved to the position shown in Figure-3, the envelope`is practically open, for then by ygrasping the'loop the entire flappulls right out. Of course, the

envelope may carry suitable indicia or instrucl 'f tions concerning theproper manner of with- 15.

drawing the flap.

When the envelope is ready to beV returned, first class, the edge of theap is sealed along the upper edge of the envelope, as shown in Figure 4,thereby covering the original address and exposing the address to whichthe envelope is to be returned first class. f

'.With reference to the slightly modified form shown in Figure 5, thediagonal edge 5 of the envelope front carries by a scored line l2 agummed tab I3. If desired, this tab may be pro-l vided for greaterprecaution in third class mail, and if used it is sealed to the flap 6,as shown in Figure 5. The use of Such a tab in Sending third class mailis allowed by postal regulations. And as the tab is scored it may easilybe separated upon receipt, and does not interfere with the withdrawal ofthe flap in the manner heretofore described.

While I have particularly described the invention in connection with itsuse as a return envelope, it will be apparent that the novel featuresare applicable to all envelopes which may be used unsealed.

Having fully described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An envelope having a flap adapted to be inserted in the envelope forthird class mailing, the ilap having substantially the depth and widthof the envelope, the envelope on its front having a cutaway portionadjacent one end to expose a portion of the flap, and the end of the apadja- 4 cent the cutaway portion being out on a diagonal,- the cutawayportion of the envelope front, the exposed flap portion, and thediagonal out of the flap all cooperating to facilitate Withdrawal of theflap.

2. An envelope having a flap adapted to be inserted in the envelope forthird class mailing, the flap having substantially the depth and widthof the envelope, the envelope front being cut on a, diagonal from oneend to the other, providing an exposed ap portion at one end of theenvelope, and the end of the nap adjacent the exposed portion being cuton a diagonal, the diagonal cut of the envelope front, the exposed flapportion, and the diagonal cut of the flap all cooperating to facilitatewithdrawal of the flap.

3. An envelope having a flap adapted to be inserted in the envelope forthird class mailing, the flap having substantially the depth and widthof the envelope, the envelope front being cut on a diagonal from one endto the other, providing an exposed nap portion at one end of theenvelope, the end of the flap adjacent the exposed portion being cut ona diagonal, the diagonal cut of the envelope front, the exposed flapportion, and the diagonal cut of the flap all cooperating to facilitatewithdrawal of the flap, and a gummed tab detachahly connected to theedge of the diagonal cut front and adapted to be sealed to said flapwhen inserted in the envelope.

JOHN A. FRAMIPTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,382,114 Norgell June 21, 19212,201,538 Holden May 21, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,857Great Britain Mar. 2, 1903 9,635 Great Britain May 8, 1899 336,585 ItalyFeb. 18, 1936

